AFCAT Flying Officer Recruitment 2025: Apply online for AFCAT 01/2026 to join the Indian Air Force as a Flying Officer or Ground Duty (Technical/Non-Technical) Officer. Check eligibility, age limit, salary, vacancies, exam date, syllabus, and application process. Form last date: 14 December 2025.
Advertising No. AFCAT-01/2026
Introduction:
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is inviting applications from eligible Indian citizens (Men and Women) for the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT-01/2026). This entry is for the selection of Group ‘A’ Gazetted Officers to join the Flying and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches, with courses commencing in January 2027. Candidates can apply for Permanent Commission (PC) or Short Service Commission (SSC) based on their eligibility. The application window is open from November 17, 2025, to December 14, 2025.
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AFCAT Flying Officer Recruitment 2025-Overview:
organization name | भारतीय वायु सेना (Indian Air Force) |
|---|---|
post name | Group 'A' Gazetted Officers in Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) Branches. |
post type | Permanent Commission (PC) and Short Service Commission (SSC) for Men and Women. |
application mode | Online |
application fees | ₹550/- plus GST (Non-refundable) for AFCAT Entry candidates. NCC Special Entry candidates are exempted. |
no of vacancies | Tentative vacancies are released for various categories, including Flying (PC/SSC), Ground Duty Technical (Aeronautical Engineer Mechanical/Electrical - PC/SSC), and Ground Duty Non-Technical (WS, Admin, Lgs, Accts, Edn, Met - PC/SSC). |
education qualification | Varies by branch. General requirement: A three-year graduation degree or four-year engineering/technology degree with a minimum of 60% marks. For Flying and Technical branches, candidates must also have passed Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level with 50% marks each. |
selection process | 1.AFCAT Written Examination 2.AFSB Interview (5 Days)
3. Medical Examination 4. Final Merit List NCC Special Entry candidates are directly called for AFSB (No written exam). |
age limit( as on 01 Jan 2027) | 1. Flying Branch
Commercial Pilot License (CPL) holders: relaxable up to 26 years 2. Ground Duty (Technical/Non-Technical)
|
salary | Training Stipend: ₹56,100/- per month. Post-Training (Flying Officer): Pay is in Level 10 (₹56,100 - ₹1,77,500) plus Military Service Pay (MSP) of ₹15,500/month and allowances. Gross monthly salary can range from approximately ₹85,000 to ₹1,10,000 depending on the branch and posting location. |
AFCAT Flying Officer Recruitment 2025- Important Dates:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | 15 November 2025 |
| Application Start Date | 17 November 2025 (11:00 AM) |
| Application Last Date | 14 December 2025 (11:30 PM) |
| Application Fee Payment Last Date | 14 December 2025 |
| Admit Card Release Date | 22 January 2026 |
| AFCAT Exam Date | 31 January 2026 (Saturday) |
| Result Declaration | February 2026 (Tentative) |
| AFSB Interview Dates | March–June 2026 (Tentative) |
| Training Commencement | January 2027 |
AFCAT Flying Officer Recruitment 2025- Education Qualification:
1. Flying Branch
- 10+2 with Physics & Maths (50% each)
- Graduation (3 years) with 60% marks
OR - BE/BTech with 60% marks
2. Ground Duty (Technical)
- 10+2 with PCM
- Engineering degree in approved disciplines such as:
ECE, EE, ME, CS, IT, AI/ML, Aeronautical, Mechanical, etc.
3. Ground Duty (Non-Technical)
Weapon System / Administration / Logistics / Accounts / Education / Meteorology
- Graduation with 60% marks
- For Accounts: B.Com/BBA Finance/CA/CMA etc.
- For Education: Post-Graduation with 50% marks
AFCAT Flying Officer Recruitment 2025- Vacancy Details:
AFCAT Entry – Flying & Ground Duty
| Entry | Branch | Course No. | Men (PC) | Women (PC) | Men (SSC) | Women (SSC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFCAT Entry | Flying | 221/27F/SSC/M&W | – | – | 34 | 04 |
Ground Duty (Technical)
| Branch | Course No. | Men (PC) | Women (PC) | Men (SSC) | Women (SSC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AE (L) | 220/27T/PC/110AEC/M&W | 03 | 03 | 100 | 23 |
| AE (M) | 220/27T/SSC/110AEC/M&W | 09 | 03 | 38 | 09 |
Ground Duty (Non-Technical)
| Branch | Men (SSC) | Women (SSC) |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon Systems (WS) | 21 | 05 |
| Administration | 48 | 12 |
| Logistics (LGS) | 09 | 02 |
| Accounts (Accts) | 08 | 02 |
| Education (Edn) | 02 | 02 |
| Meteorology (Met) | 01 | 02 |
NCC Special Entry – Flying Branch
| Entry | Branch | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| NCC Special Entry | Flying | 10% seats from CDSE (PC) + 10% from AFCAT (SSC) |
Disclaimer
Vacancies are tentative and may change based on Indian Air Force requirements for Jan 2027 course. Final intake will depend on manning needs.
AFCAT Flying Officer Recruitment 2025
| Exam | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Questions | 100 |
| Total Marks | 300 |
| Duration | 2 Hours |
| Negative Marking | –1 |
| Sections |
|
AFCAT Flying Officer Recruitment 2025- Important Direct Link:
AFCAT Flying Officer Recruitment 2025- Exam Tip Preparation:
To prepare effectively for the AFCAT exam:
- Understand the Syllabus: Start by thoroughly reviewing the official AFCAT syllabus and exam pattern.
- Focus on Basics: Ensure your fundamental concepts in Mathematics and English grammar are clear, as the test covers school-level aptitude.
- Current Affairs: Dedicate time daily to General Awareness, focusing particularly on Defence-related news, Sports, History, and Current Affairs of the last six months.
- Practice is Key: Solve as many Previous Years’ Question Papers and take full-length Mock Tests as possible to improve speed and time management.
- Reasoning/Military Aptitude: Practice non-verbal and figural questions extensively, as they form a significant portion of the test.
Refer Book
The following are widely recommended books for AFCAT preparation:
- General Awareness: Lucent’s General Knowledge, Manorama Yearbook
- Verbal Ability in English: Objective General English by R.S. Aggarwal, Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
- Numerical Ability: Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by R.S. Aggarwal
- All-in-One Guide: AFCAT for Flying, Technical & Ground Duty Branch by Arihant Experts
AFCAT Flying Officer Recruitment 2025- How To Apply:
- The application process is entirely online. Candidates must follow these simple steps to apply:
- Visit the official AFCAT website at https://afcat.edcil.co.in.
- Click on the “AFCAT 01/2026 Registration” link or access the Candidate Login Menu.
- Register by creating an account using a valid email ID and password.
- Fill out the AFCAT application form with accurate personal, educational, and service preference details.
- Upload scanned copies of required documents, including photograph and signature.
- Pay the application fee of ₹550/- plus GST (if applicable) through the online payment gateway.
- Review the form carefully, submit it before the last date, and take a printout of the final submitted application form for future reference.
AFCAT Flying Officer Recruitment 2025- FAQs?
Q1. What is the difference between Permanent Commission (PC) and Short Service Commission (SSC)?
👉Ans: Permanent Commission (PC) is for a full career in the IAF until the age of superannuation. Short Service Commission (SSC) is for a limited period, typically 10 to 14 years, with an option for PC based on performance and service requirements.
Q2. Is there any negative marking in the AFCAT exam?
👉Ans: Yes, there is a penalty for wrong answers. 1 mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer. 3 marks are awarded for a correct answer.
Q3. Do NCC Air Wing ‘C’ Certificate holders need to clear the written AFCAT exam?
👉Ans: No. Candidates applying through the NCC Special Entry are exempted from the written AFCAT exam but must still register online and appear for the AFSB interview round.
Q4. Is the Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT) mandatory for all branches?
👉Ans: No, the EKT is mandatory only for candidates applying to the Ground Duty (Technical) Branch. Candidates applying for Flying or Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branches do not have to appear for the EKT.
Q5. What are the key stages of the selection process after the written exam?
👉Ans: Candidates who qualify the written exam are called for AFSB Testing (Stage I: Screening, Stage II: Psychological Tests, Group Tests, and Interview) followed by a detailed Medical Examination.
- For more updates, stay connected with www.sarkarimission.in